Hotels seek single point of contact for cleaning and security

The Independent Hotel Show is all about facilities solutions for day-to-day operations

At the Independent Hotel Show, Asenso Facilities is presenting itself to a wider audience in the hotel sector. The company combines hotel housekeeping with specialist cleaning and a separate security branch. Managing director Samir Haidari sees the show mainly as an opportunity to build new hotel relationships. “There are a lot of decision-makers walking around here. We want to show what we do and engage with hotels.”

Asenso Facilities was founded seven years ago by Haidari, who previously worked in the automotive sector, including at Mercedes. His interest in hospitality arose from practical experience. “When I wanted to start my own company, I first started working in hotels to gain experience. After a few months, I built a team. That was the beginning of Asenso.”

In the early years, the company worked mainly as a subcontractor. During the corona period, however, Haidari took a different approach. “By now, I had built many relationships in the industry and wanted to work directly with customers. After the lockdown, we started setting that up. By now, we also carry responsibility for execution.”

Housekeeping as a separate organisation

According to Haidari, the move came from what he saw at hotels on a daily basis. “Hotels mainly want to be concerned with hospitality, with guests and service. But housekeeping is almost a business in itself, with recruitment, planning, sick leave, certification and salary payment.” Organising that part externally, he says, creates more continuity in the operation.

“When we run a venue, it just has to stand. Hotels don't want hassles with downtime or last-minute gaps in planning.” Asenso therefore works with fixed price agreements per room and for common areas. “That gives clarity. And if something happens, for example an accident or long-term illness, we are liable.”

To live up to that responsibility, Asenso steers strongly on quality and control. New employees first shadow experienced colleagues for weeks. “After that, a supervisor inspects each room before a new guest checks in. So in practice, a room is always checked by one or two people.” Consultations with hotels are also structural, according to Haidari, based partly on operational feedback and guest reviews.

Specialist cleaning and Hyla

Besides regular housekeeping, Asenso also provides specialist cleaning, such as deep cleaning of kitchens and extractor systems, carpet cleaning and mattress cleaning. For this, the company recently started working with Hyla products, a water-based system. “With this, we can make rooms really allergen-free, for example for guests with allergies. Odours from smoking or cooking are also better removed.” Asenso is now official sales partner of Hyla in the Netherlands and is also showing the products at the Independent Hotel Show.

Security as an additional service

Besides cleaning, the company also built up a security branch during the lockdown. “During that period, there was little cleaning work, but security went on everywhere. Then I started the screening and licensing process, which took almost a year. After that, we started Asenso Security.”

Security services include hotel security, night reception and event security. “Hotels that are satisfied with our cleaning increasingly choose security as well. They like the fact that they have one point of contact.” According to Haidari, security in hotels requires employees who remain guest-focused. “An eye for detail, friendliness and a smile are part of this, even in the middle of the night. That is what we stand for.”

At the Independent Hotel Show, the company will show how it offers cleaning, specialist cleaning and security as one facility service for hotels. “We have grown considerably and now we want to show that more widely,” he says.”